The Criminal Justice System in Zambia
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Th e Criminal Justice System in Zambia Enhancing the Delivery of Security in Africa African Human Security Initiative Monograph 159 April 2009 Contents Acknowledgments . v Foreword . vi List of tables, fi gures and boxes . viii Acronyms and initialisms . x Executive summary . xi Chapter 1 Introduction . 1 African Human Security Initiative . 1 Methodology . 3 Structure of the report . 12 Overview of Zambia . 12 Criminal justice standards . 16 Chapter 2 Crime in Zambia . 19 Incidence, nature and extent of crime . 19 Victim surveys . 20 Corruption . 22 Drug traffi cking and money laundering . 29 Human traffi cking . 32 Illegal migration . 37 Criminal gangs and organised crime . 40 Conclusion . 41 Monograph 159 i The Criminal Justice System in Zambia Chapter 3 Policing . 43 Policing activities . 43 Fighting corruption . 57 Policing drugs and money laundering . 66 Recommendations . 69 Conclusion . 73 Chapter 4 Prosecutorial services . 75 Legal framework . 75 Organisational capacity . 76 Public perception . 76 National criminal prosecutions policy . 80 Recommendations on the national criminal prosecutions policy . 81 Chapter 5 The courts . 83 The legal system . 83 The courts . 86 Legal aid . 92 The judiciary . 96 Juvenile justice . 103 Access to justice . 111 Public perceptions . 115 Recommendations/plan of action . 125 Chapter 6 Customary justice . 129 Conceptual framework of the customary criminal justice system . 129 Customary law and the Constitution of Zambia . 132 Customary law and legal protection of human rights . 133 The position of the customary criminal justice system in Zambia . 134 The friction between the customary criminal justice system and local courts . 137 Procedure for handling customary criminal justice . 139 ii Institute for Security Studies African Human Security initiative Strengths . .140 Disadvantages . 141 Conclusions/recommendations . 142 Chapter 7 Zambia Prison Service . 145 Legal framework . 145 Capacity . 146 Off ender management (unit programme) . 147 Problems aff ecting prison administration . 148 Conclusion . 159 Recommendations . 160 Chapter 8 Regional and international conventions and protocols . 165 Regional protocols Zambia has signed . 165 Other regional treaties and protocols that Zambia should ratify . 168 International treaties Zambia has signed . 168 International conventions and protocols that Zambia should ratify . 171 Participation in activities of law enforcement organisations . 172 Recommendations . 173 Notes . 175 Appendices ..